
Frauenfeld is turning the town centre upside down
Six sections of road in Frauenfeld town centre are to be put out for public consultation. The framework grant of 11.3 million Swiss francs, approved in 2022, remains in place, but the redevelopment will be carried out in phases until at least 2030 and will have a significant impact on transport,

Grenchen is doing away with paper-based procedures for planning applications
Grenchen will switch to the eBauSO system for planning applications from 1 September 2026. For developers and planners, submissions will therefore only be accepted digitally from then on, whilst objections and appeals in the canton of Solothurn will, for the time being, continue to be submitted on

Residential construction drives up fund profits
Higher rental income, lower vacancy rates and 80 million Swiss francs of fresh capital. The Immo Helvetic property fund posted an operational improvement in the first half of 2026, despite no new acquisitions being made during the reporting period. The boost stems from ongoing residential

PropTech comes crashing down to earth
The major disruption has yet to materialise. According to the latest industry observations, it is not so much the loudest promises of growth that are gaining ground in the PropTech market, but rather solutions that genuinely simplify processes, reduce costs and integrate seamlessly into existing

Bern’s housing market remains extremely tight
Even 351 vacant flats in Bern are still not enough to provide even a minimal buffer. As at 1 June 2026, the vacancy rate remained at 0.44 per cent, even though the housing stock had risen to 79,797 units by the end of 2025 and new builds had already been fully

Baden Puts 20 Apartments on Hold Due to a Late Application for Protection
On the Demuth site in Baden’s Oberstadt district, a housing project by the municipal housing foundation has suddenly been put on hold. The city council has applied to the canton to have the old metalworking shop designated as a protected historic building, thereby blocking a project involving 20

Bern Cuts Electricity Costs and Tests New Load Management Measures
For households on BKW’s basic service plan, electricity will become even more affordable in 2027. According to the company, for an annual consumption of 4,500 kilowatt-hours, the bill will decrease by about 95 francs per year. At the same time, a voluntary grid tariff will be introduced, offering

The Gateway Spreitenbach is taking shape
Something that once seemed unthinkable is currently taking place at Kreuzäcker in Spreitenbach. On a site that was blocked for years by planning restrictions, a commercial building is now rising. 40 million Swiss francs, 6,000 square metres – a clear commitment to the region. The Gateway

A Parking Space Becomes a Political Issue
An electric car spends most of its time parked. That’s exactly when it should be able to charge—at home or at work. But for many renters and condominium owners, this simple idea hits a wall in the garage. The Federal Council now wants to change that, thereby sparking a conflict that goes far

High up or closer to the action
Zurich is debating building regulations. The discussion centers on housing, open spaces, the character of neighborhoods, and the question of what a growing city should look like. On September 27, 2026, voters will choose between two proposals for new high-rise building

37 degrees outside, 25 inside—no trick
The summer heat takes its toll on roofs, facades, and workplaces. Indoors, people find it harder to concentrate, energy consumption rises, and the desire for air conditioning grows. But buildings can do more than just combat the heat. They can absorb it, store it, and effectively slow its

From a Transportation Hub to a Riverfront Neighborhood
For a long time, Rüüssegg was little more than a promise on paper. Now, construction is getting underway at Seetalplatz. By the end of 2029, a neighborhood featuring 344 apartments, jobs, and new open spaces will have taken shape along the Kleine Emme. This marks a decisive step forward in the

Who holds the knowledge within the company?
Artificial intelligence has become part of everyday work life. It summarizes documents, answers inquiries, and streamlines processes. The more useful AI becomes, the more important the question becomes: Who retains control over the data, knowledge, and decisions within the

The pressure from Hypozins is only briefly dampening the shopping frenzy
The cost of home ownership in Switzerland continues to rise in July 2026, but at a significantly slower pace. Flats are still up by 0.3 per cent month-on-month, whilst detached houses have risen by just 0.1 per cent. At the same time, fixed-rate mortgages rose noticeably up to 25 July, making

Steinenvorstadt risks failing to gain listed status
In Basel’s Steinenvorstadt district, the demolition of an entire row of houses has suddenly ceased to be merely a matter of urban development. Four historic buildings have been listed on the cantonal register of listed buildings, and the conflict between preservation and urban densification is

The area around Bischofszell railway station is becoming more densely built-up
At Bischofszell railway station, the former hemp factory site is to be redeveloped with two new buildings and an extension to an existing building. The plans include 38 rental flats and around 740 square metres of commercial space. The project will be presented at the town hall on 24 August

Geneva’s environmental labels are losing their impact on building sites
In Geneva, new neighbourhoods and buildings are increasingly being awarded green certifications. Yet it is precisely at the stage where materials are used and emissions are generated that oversight remains lax. This is increasing the pressure on developers, planners and authorities to finally carry

Innerrhoden pays the highest housing allowance
According to a recent analysis by Wüest Partner, Appenzell Innerrhoden tops the list of Swiss cantons with the highest risk of overvaluation for detached houses. Prices there are around 16 per cent above their fundamental value, but the small size of the market means this warning is susceptible to

Altstetten to gain 65 flats by 2029
At Badenerstrasse 501 to 505 in Zurich Altstetten, the way is now clear for a new replacement development. Sixty-five rental flats and commercial premises are to be built on the 1,700-square-metre site. The decision takes a long-planned project into the next concrete

More licences granted, but rental pressure remains
Although the approval of around 52,000 new homes marks a statistical turning point in Switzerland, this is barely noticeable on the rental market. Construction is taking place mainly outside the regions with the greatest shortages, whilst refurbishments are tying up capacity and asking rents

Niderfeld Dietikon: an urban development project set to go ahead
With the Niderfeld project, Dietikon is developing one of the largest contiguous development areas in the Limmat Valley, covering around 40 hectares. Following a planning process spanning several decades, the Niderfeld project is on the verge of becoming legally binding. This article provides an

Berlin continues to bang its head against a political brick wall
Despite the rent register, the debate on expropriation and the electoral risk, major rental housing projects are continuing to get under way in Berlin. The reason is straightforward, yet risky for developers. Demand remains high, but political uncertainty and rents exceeding 20 euros per square

Zollikofen puts 140 flats to a public vote
956 valid signatures were enough in Zollikofen to put the rezoning of the Steinibachgrube to a public vote. This means that a housing project comprising around 140 flats will become a political litmus test for urban densification, the risk posed by contaminated sites and traffic

St. Gallen paves the way for demolition grants
St. Gallen intends to offer financial incentives to owners of properties outside building zones to encourage them to demolish empty or unsightly buildings. To this end, the government is submitting an amendment to the Planning and Building Act for consultation. As things stand, the first payments

The heat is causing a shift in priorities when buying a house
Temperatures of 39 degrees in German-speaking Switzerland and tropical nights in the cities are shifting the focus when it comes to home ownership. Prospective buyers are paying closer attention to shade, greenery and protection from the summer heat, whilst overheated locations and poorly insulated

Baden Regio sets out its next planning strategy
23 local authorities in the Baden region are refining their joint development strategy. A new Regional Development Strategy (RES) is due to be finalised by the end of 2026. For urban development, housing, transport and open spaces, this is more than just a piece of paper, as the association brings

US mortgage drive steps up a gear
750 million dollars by 2035, 500,000 additional homeowner households and a more than 40 per cent increase in mortgage volume. The largest US bank is banking on an aggressive expansion of financing in the weak US housing market, thereby turning access to home ownership into a growth area – of all

Basel is moving towards vertical living
The greater Basel area is on the cusp of a boom in the construction of high-rise residential buildings, which will visibly transform the region within a decade. What was previously just three residential high-rises over 60 metres tall is set to become a dense network of new projects between the

Low inflation is easing the pressure on mortgage rates
An annual inflation rate of 0.5 per cent in June 2026 and an SNB key interest rate of 0 per cent will spare fixed-rate mortgages maturing by the end of the year the acute impact of rising interest rates. At present, the greatest influence often lies not with monetary policy, but with the banks’

What’s really planned for the Dreispitz
Where vacant premises now dominate and shop windows are hidden behind masking tape, a vibrant urban neighbourhood is set to emerge by 2033. Baloise has given the go-ahead for four new buildings on the Dreispitz site in Dietikon. An 80-metre-high tower block will mark the start of this new chapter.